Road expansion work likely to be deferred
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 11, 2012:
Notwithstanding the fact that the State's plan outlay for the current financial year is Rs 3600 crores, the project of road expansion from Keishampat to Malom may be deferred to the next fiscal as huge portions of the plan amount would be invested in major projects which remain incomplete and/or are under progress.
A reliable source informed that as per the State Government's plan Tidim Road would be expanded to 19 metres on both sides measuring from the centre of median from Keishampat to Malom.
Preliminary assessment reported that the Government would need more than Rs 100 crores for payment of compensation for land and standing properties which would be affected when the road is expanded to 19 metres on both sides.
The compensation amount has turned out to be a major burden for the State Government.
As such, the Government is not in a position to take up any new project of road expansion during the current fiscal.
The funds used in expansion of Wahengbam Leikai road and Singjamei road were from the Special Development Fund (SDF) which is under the discretionary power of the Chief Minister.
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This fiscal year too, certain amounts would be released from the SDF.
But unlike the previous years where the SDF was according to the judgement of the Chief Minister, the amount released from SDF would be utilised under certain terms and conditions.
In short, the mode of utilising SDF would be different this time, informed the source.
Against the plan amount of Rs 3600 crores as was fixed by the Planning Commission for this fiscal, the State Government would be spending several crores of rupees in completing many inaugurated projects like Assembly complex, ISBT, City Convention Centre, Civil Secretariat, JNIMS etc.
In addition, the State Government is yet to pay huge liabilities to many agencies.